Biltmore Estate: Built to Last

Have you ever seen something so breathtakingly beautiful you want to tell everyone you know what you've experienced yet you can hardly find the right words to describe what you've seen or encompass the full impact of its beauty? This was my experience as I, for the first time, approached the Biltmore Estate. What a testament to our American Heritage and architecture. The below photos merely highlight a few of my most favorite features of this magnificent home but perhaps they'll be just enough to tempt you to travel to the fairytale home atop the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Biltmore: Built to Last "Biltmore is a testament to the uncompromising ideals of an exceptional man - George Washington Vanderbilt. What began as his vision of a country retreat became the largest private residence in America and stands to this day as a celebrated historic landmark. To visit Biltmore is to cross the threshold into a world of hospitality, beauty and luxury that has remained unchanged for more than a century and is being preserved for many generations yet to come." - Biltmore: An American Masterpiece.       While George Vanderbilt was the visionary, Biltmore house and its gardens are the result of a collaborative effort between Vanderbilt, architect Richard Morris Hunt and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead. Together they created a harmonious blend of finest architectural details, interior design and furnishing and landscaping from England, France, Italy and Asia. Added to this is the very best in American ingenuity of its day.      The house alone is 175,000 square feet or 4 acres of floor space, boasting 250 rooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces. The architect Hunt, incorporated many of the innovations being introduced at the 1893 World Exposition; electricity, electric lights, refrigeration and 2 Otis elevators still operating with the original motors.       It took 6 years and 1000 artisans  working 6 days a week to complete this architectural masterpiece. The limestone, brought in from Bedford Indiana, was set in place then carved to create the countless architectural details that cover the exterior and line the roof tops. Each of the many gargoyles that watch over the estate are unique and one of a kind.     The above pictures show the exterior of the Grand Staircase, which has 102 steps that lead from the ground floor to the fourth floor. Typically photos of the interiors are not allowed, however, our docent allowed our group to sneak a couple of the wrought iron chandelier suspended through the center of the staircase.     This incredible work of art is illuminated by 72 electric bulbs and is suspended by ONE bolt. Only recently has this bolt be replaced as a precautionary measure!     Because of the many influences, our docent remarked the house is "like a English woman wearing a French dress".                        There is so much beauty in this home, so much to be said about its many rooms and the treasures each room holds, I feel my little newsletter can hardly do it justice. So I'll conclude with my favorite room and hope you too will one day visit the America's Downton Abbey. Graceful and feminine, Edith Vanderbilt's bedroom is as fresh and lovely as the day in 1898 it was completed. Decorated in preparation for their wedding, it appears today the same as when Edith saw this room for the first time upon her return from their honeymoon. Decorated in the Louis XV style, circa 1725, this oval shaped room incorporates all things feminine; luxurious silk wallcoverings, gilded mirrors and velvet draperies and is furnished with French period pieces typified by carved floral motifs and curving profiles. What woman today wouldn't relish such elegance? As I said before, there is so much more to this cultural and historic feast for the eyes that it is my hope you will find your way to this magnificent American Landmark. But if you can't, I hope you'll at least visit the website to learn more about the history of this home. It's something you don't want to miss! http://www.biltmore.com/   Cultivating Individuality in Your Home Celeste Jackson

From Flappers to Furniture, Fringe is in!

Recently I received a manufacturer's email announcing "Fringe is Back!" I love fringe and never really considered it gone. To me, fringe is the jewelry of drapery and adds attitude to upholstery. Take a look at some of these inspiring pics and you'll know right away what I'm talking about!

From Flappers to Furniture, Fringe is In!                   

For the same reasons the flappers of the "Roaring Twenties" loved fringe, and lots of it, on their dresses, designers love to add fringe to interiors. Let's face it, Fringe is Fun! Just like on the dress of a flapper, fringe follows form and accentuates lines and curves. Lovely to look at fringe catches the eye. Luxurious textures, toooo tempting, must touch!

 

Fringe reflects light, adds movement, texture and an unexpected twist to draperies or any piece of upholstery.

 

 

 

Today, fringe come in a huge assortment of  colors, textures, beads, metal, brushes and boullions.

If your style is traditional, substituting the skirt of a sofa with fringe can add a playful and unexpected touch of whimsy.

If your style is contemporary, fringe trim will bring movement to the lines and curves of everything from furniture to lighting. 

Fringes and trims add life and interest to toss pillow, table runners, afghans and bedding accelerating them from functional to fabulous.

And now they can go outside! These boldly colored creations take luxury to the outdoors. Give your patio a bit of bedazzle!

Jazz up your home, add sass to your sofa, shimmer to your drapes and adorn your home with the jewelry of trims!

  

Cultivate Individuality in your Unique Home! Celeste Jackson

Understanding Your True Furniture Needs!

Do you know the best way to go about furnishing your home? Will your home look and feel the way you hoped? How much should you spend to know the pieces you've selected will stand the test of time? There's more to furnishing you home than you might think. Below are a few ideas to consider before you begin.

Understanding Your True Furniture Needs  Have you ever bought a sofa or chair that looked like "just your style" only to be disappointed a year or two later when the cushions have flattened or the seams are coming apart? Or, have you had a dresser drawer bottom out because it had more than it could hold?   In today's era of environmentalism, we're constantly receiving messages encouraging us to choose reusable water bottles, unbleached paper products made from post consumer materials and toilet paper without the cardboard tube, all in an effort to reduce our impact on the environment.  While these are all simple steps we can all take, here's another area to consider, furniture. It's most obvious around holidays, such as President's Day, July Fourth, Labor and Memorial Days, there's a lot of furniture deals to be had. Online and discount retailers promise highly recognizable brand name furniture at HUGE, HUGE, SAVINGS and DEALS THAT CAN'T BE BEAT! Great photography in catalogs and online make reasonably priced furniture look amazing; a lot of look for little money. But to get prices so low, what are you sacrificing? The answer, quality; quality in the construction and quality in the finish. Now two thoughts may be crossing your mind. The first, what does this have to do with the saving the environment? Well, we know the better something is made, the longer it will last. Well constructed furniture will stand up to heavy use rather than braking down only to find its way to the landfill. With care, quality furniture will provide years of service and can be refinished or reupholstered for continued use by you, new use in a new space, sold or passed along to others. The second thought, how then do I choose furniture? Here are a few tips to help. Prioritize Your Furniture - The furniture that's used daily, such as, the family room sofa and chairs, kitchen dining table and chairs, beds, mattress sets and bedroom dressers should be your most well constructed pieces and top budgetary priorities. This is the essential furniture in your home.   Keep It Simple - Because buying new furniture with each new trend can be costly and your essential pieces will last a long time, the fabrics and finishes you select should be classic in style and neutral in color, so they're versatile and can be easily updated with fresh accessories as color trends change.   Have a Plan - Have a well designed floor plan and color palette. Just as a road map makes for a good road trip, a strong plan will help you to know exactly which pieces you'll need and the colors to select with each phase of your homes development. You'll know which pieces to purchase first and where best to allocate your funds. You can still strategically use some of those inexpensive, fun and sometimes trendy pieces in areas for low use and high impact. Furniture for halls and foyers, powder rooms, guest rooms and rooms that aren't frequently used don't have to provide a lot of support or endure repeated opening and closing are the places to preserve the budget.   Cultivate Individuality! Celeste Jackson

Kitchen Rejuvenation!

There's the familiar saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words" so this month I've selected some pictures from this exciting kitchen make over to speak for me. Look at these before and after pictures then think about your home. Which room are you ready to transform into an "after" picture?

Kitchen Rejuvenation!  Because we do so much more than cook in our kitchens, the kitchen has become one of the most important rooms in our homes; it's the heart of the home, a gathering place for all. Take a look at the before photos of this kitchen to see how it was transformed into a space to be enjoyed by all. Dining Area - Before Kitchen and Island - Before The extensive use of busy patterns can make even large rooms feel small.   Kitchen Sink and Island - Before Corner Cabinets and Counters - Before. After: It's All in the Details Dining Area - After A colleague of mine likes to say, "The ceiling is the fifth wall of a room," and I couldn't agree more. By adding crown molding and decorative painting to the ceiling, the eye is drawn up, the ceiling appears higher and spaces are clearly defined; the dining area takes on a more intimate air. The tromp l'oeil over the island and the decorative painting over the dining area add to the old world style.    Under cabinet lighting highlights the beautiful tile backsplash and makes a better work area. Detail of Crown Molding and Window Treatment      Just as a clear and uncluttered desk makes for a pleasant work environment, so it is with the counters in the kitchen.  Having ample storage off surfaces means there will be plenty of open space for cooking prep, hot pots and serving dishes.   By contrasting the finish on the kitchen island to the other cabinets, it sets the island apart as an architectural element of its own yet is in keeping with the feel of the old world style. Note how the weathered old world finish with it's layering of colors enhances the detail of the cabinets.    Functional to Fabulous: Freshen Up the Laundry Room    In today's home, the laundry or mud room is our entry way into our home. Instead of treating this space as an oversized closet or storage room, a catch all for the unsightly, make this space fresh and friendly. A cheery space to welcomes you home!   Laundry Room - Before                          Because frequently it's adjacent to the kitchen, continuity and uniformity are created between the laundry room and kitchen through the use of similar colors, textures, hardware and finishes. Custom shelves provide strong stable storage space to keep clear the counters and hanging rod for laundry day. This custom bench means there's an easy, comfortable place to put shoes on and there are an ample number of hooks, baskets and drawers for hats, mittens, umbrellas and totes all in one compact and neatly organized space.

The Art of Selecting and Hanging Artwork

Have you ever entered a room and felt like something is missing? You look around and all the pieces appear to be in place, the sofa, chairs, tables, lamps. So what is it? Perhaps it's artwork. Artwork is a critical element to completing a room and adding personality. Unfortunately, too often people feel unsure when choosing the right pieces and intimidated by the prospect of hanging artwork on the walls. In this newsletter, I address these issues and provide tips for hanging art without making Swiss cheese out of your walls!

The Art of Selecting and Hanging Artwork

 

 

Selecting art for your home can be an exciting adventure and a bring a source of enjoyment for years to come. The key to successfully purchasing art begins by determining what kind of art you like, how each piece will best fit with the rest of your interior design plans, and how to exhibit the art to the best effect in your home. Although the internet has innumerable art sources, it's not necessarily the best way to shop for art. Because colors on your monitor may vary from the actual colors, printed catalogues are still an excellent resource when shopping for art. Manufacturers take great care to print on high quality paper to insure the color accuracy of the art. Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd. carries a variety of lines for you to select from.

 

What kind of art do you like?

 

If you regularly visit galleries and museums, you probably have a good sense of what kind of art appeals to you. If not, browsing art within your community at local exhibitions and art fairs are an enjoyable place to start. Even small towns usually have a non-profit gallery space, and your local café or restaurant may exhibit the works of local artists. In larger cities, galleries often get together for periodic "gallery nights" where all the galleries hold open house receptions on the same evening. It's a great way to see a lot of art in a short time.  Pay close attention to the styles and medium that you are attracted to...landscape, still life, architecture, nature, pop, portrait and people. Are you drawn to oil paintings, watercolors, photography, etchings or collage? What is the style... contemporary, traditional, pop or organic?

 

Should the art fit the room or the room fit the art?

 

It depends...if you already have purchased a piece of art that you love go ahead and utilize it for inspiration to build the room around. If you are attracted to a variety of styles of artwork you can create a gallery room by keeping the focus on the art and playing down the furnishings with solid neutral colors like ivory, taupe, black or gray.  If the room is already decorated your art selections should compliment the colors and the style of the room. 

 

When you go to a gallery or are traveling, what is the best way to prepare before purchasing art ?

 

Take photos of the spaces you would like to fill with art. Write the dimensions of the wall space and the dimensions of furnishings beneath the wall space. If you have any existing art in the room that you intend to keep be sure to carry photos of those as well. If the furnishings have a strong color palette carry swatches or close up photos of the fabric.

 

What are the rules of thumb when hanging art?

 

If your ceilings are 8-9 feet high, the center of the artwork should be approximately 60" from the floor; this is eye level for most people. If the ceilings are taller than you might want to go a little higher. Furnishings also come into play. If you are hanging art over a sofa I like to hang the art around 5-8"above so if anyone puts there head back when sitting on the sofa they don't hit their head on the frame. If you are hanging it over a console table, buffet, dresser, etc. than you can hang it 4-7" above.  You can go a little higher if you are hanging a grouping of pictures depending on the size. You want to be sure that the art ties into the furniture below.

 

What tools do you need to hang your art and avoid putting unwanted nail holes in your wall?

 

Hammer, hooks, nails, tape measure, pencil with an eraser, paper, calculator and most importantly... PATIENCE. Measure to find the center of the space you will be hanging the art then lightly mark your wall with you pencil. Measure the width of the artwork or grouping. Groupings can be established by laying them on a table or floor to find the best layout and spacing. Measure 60" from the floor to get the ideal center point. Measure the height of the picture or grouping and divide it in half. Now measure from the picture hanger or pull the wire taught and measure to the top of the frame. Write these numbers down and subtract the second number from the first one. This is the number you will use to place your picture hook or nail above the 60" mark. Go ahead and hammer with confidence. Example: If your picture is 50" tall (divided by 2 = 25) and the wire pulled taught is 5" from the top 25-5=20" above the 60" mark. If your picture is extra wide you can use 2 hooks spread an equal distance from the center point on the wall. Of course there are more complicated pieces to hang that unless you are fairly handy you might want to call a handyman. I happen to know one that I can highly recommend.

 

If you are still overwhelmed with the thought of selecting and hanging your own artwork, call Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd. for help. We can identify areas in need of art and provide you with beautiful pieces to enjoy for years. We would also be happy to rearrange existing art in your home to maximize the look in your home.

 

Cultivate Individuality in Your Unique Home!

Celeste Jackson

  

Thanksgiving 2014

While periodically marked by an election, for most of us flipping the calendar to the month of November brings to mind the Thanksgiving holiday. Today, Thanksgiving is marked by food, football and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, but it was 1863 at the height of one of our nations darkest periods that Abraham Lincoln called upon us as a nation to express our gratitude for the abundance God has bestowed upon us thus establishing our annual Thanksgiving celebration.  Despite the war and economic struggles that our nation is currently experiencing, there is still so much for which to give thanks. These turbulent times cause me to appreciate all the more my home, family, friends and loyal clients. I would like take the opportunity this holiday provides to convey my gratitude in the manner I know best by sharing with all of you my creativity and resources for creating a beautiful and memorable Thanksgiving Day table.

Preparing for the Feast A Thanksgiving Table to Remember There is so much thought and preparation that goes into the Thanksgiving celebration. Often the menu and guest list requires most of our time and attention leaving the setting of the table to the last minute. Today I have compiled for you some easy and inexpensive yet beautiful ideas to make your table live up to the feast you set upon it! Centerpieces Centerpiece with Pumpkins Have a Happy & Enjoyable Thanksgiving! Cultivating Individuality in You Unique Home. Celeste Jackson Interior Designer             A variety of mini pumpkins, gourds, fall fruits and vegetables colorfully mixed in a beautiful bowl create an eye catching cornucopia of vibrant fall colors. Fill in the gaps by tucking real or artificial fall leaves to really add s some pop!    For a more formal setting, use an arrangement of traditional fall

Creating a 5 Star Guest Room

Open Heart, Open Home As I anticipate the holidays, I think of the friends and family who'll visit. While trimming my home with festive and cheerful seasonal decorations, I'm planning the delicious meals I'll serve to them. Even though most of my loved ones are within commuting distance of my home, I'll often have overnight guests. Whether they've traveled from out of state or it's just too late to safely drive home, I want my guests to feel welcome and comfortable in my home as I'm sure you do as well. Here are some suggestions on making your home a 5 star retreat for your guests.    Creating a 5 Star Guest Room If you want your overnight guests to feel welcome, the first step is to make them to feel that you're prepared for their visit. Whether large or small, a guest room in a soothing color palette that feels as luxurious as a 5 star hotel room yet as comfortable as being at home is a guest room that says "Welcome, we've been waiting for you". All too often, "guest rooms" are a mere step above storage rooms; a hodge-podge of mismatched furniture from by gone eras. But a beautifully decorated room with pleasant amenities will give your guests a welcome they won't soon forget. Fresh linens are just a start to having a room at the ready. Begin with a comfortable bed. Have you spent a night in your own guest room? Try it, it maybe quite enlightening. A comfortable mattress with a pretty bed or headboard is a great place to start. Out with the old and in with newly purchased, high-thread count bedding and add extra pillows of differing firmness and thickness for back, side and stomach sleepers. Put extra blankets in the room because everyone has a different feel for what is  "warm and cozy". The same is true for warmer nights so, if possible, have a ceiling fan to cool the room for guests with high personal thermostats. Nightstands provide guests with a place for eyeglasses, a glass of water or a place to set a book all without having to get out of bed. Have a bedside lamp for the same reason, to access light without having to get out of bed and stumble around in the dark. Room darkening window treatments allow your guests to decide whether they want to be an early riser or sleep in. Have strategically placed lighting. Having a lamp or light switch close to the door makes it easy for guests to find their way into an unfamiliar bedroom. A light within easy reach of the bed makes bedtime reading more enjoyable and safer for those middle of the night trips to the bathroom. Clear the clutter. While beautiful décor is desirable, having a lot of knick knacks is not. In addition to scenic artwork, here are a few suggestions for things that serve a practical purpose while beautifying your guest room.   Cultivating Individuality in Your Unique Home Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd.